The10th of May 1536 was a significant day for Anne Bolyen, it was a day which would seal the fate of Anne Boleyn.
The Grand Jury of Middlesex found that Anne Boleyn was guilty of having several affairs outside of her marriage toHenry VIII. The jury found that Anne had committed adultery with five men. One of those five men was her brother, George Bolyen. The second man who was found guilty of having an affair with the Queen was the court musician Mark Smeaton. The third man who was found guilty was politician and writer Sir William Brereton. Forth to be accused and found guilty was gentleman of the Privy Chamber Sir Henry Norris. And, finally, the fifth man to be found guilty was another gentleman of the Privy Chamber Sir Francis Weston.
The indictment starts off more like a rant, accusing Anne of being 'evil' and as having a ''heart of malice''. The interesting thing about the indictment is that although Anne is accused of being adulterous with these five men, the evidence seems weak, to non-existing. For example, there doesn't seem to be any mention of who is accusing her. And, there is little evidence of where these affairs took place.
If anything, the indictment provides an accusatory tone, rather than a factual tone. From the outset, it seems like a bitter and hateful attack, rather than a proper legal process.
Another thing should be taken into consideration is Henry's courting of Anne. The accusations about Anne being an adulteress doesn't seem to fit with her personality. It took Henry seven years to win over Anne. She never wanted to be the Kings mistress, like her sister Mary Boleyn was. Anne was aware of the Kings fickle nature, and his quick disregard for women he used as his mistress. Given her nature through this period of courting, it's hard to see her compromising her position, especially with the scale of the accusations thrown at her.
Although, of course it is't unthinkable or unlikely that she did have an affair. It's absolutely possible that she could have. But, on this scale, it seems unlikely. She wasn't promiscuous. And, on the basis of the evidence, or lack of evidence against her, it seems that she was innocent, rather than guilty.
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